iPad 5 to shave one third off tablet's weight, launch set for September?

Apple’s next-generation iPad may be the company’s thinnest and lightest yet, according to a new report from supply chain sources.

Speaking to DigiTimes, Taiwanese supply chain sources are claiming that the iPad 5 will weight 33% less than the current top-spec iPad 4 model.

To hit the new target weight of 437g, Apple are said to be employing a new manufacturing technique that uses a thinner 0.2mm piece of glass for the screen and one LED light bar for backlighting, allowing them to shave a few grams off the overall weight while still retaining the 2048 x 1536 Retina display resolution.

That’s compared to the current gen iPad 4’s 0.25mm glass substrate and two LED light bars.

Other areas where the tablet will go on a diet will include the tablet’s bezel, which will be thinner around the edges and closer to how the iPad Mini looks. Display panels will be sourced from numerous manufacturers (including LG, Samsung and Sharp) to help ease any potential shortage issues too.

If DigiTimes sources are to be believed, the iPad 5 will enter production in July, ready to ship between 2 and 3 million units in time for a September launch.